India vs Sri Lanka, tri-series highlights: India's 81-run win, as it happened

Chasing a revised target of 178 from 26 overs, Sri Lanka were shot out for 96 as Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a career-best 4 for 8 in his six overs. Catch all the highlights from the match, as they happened. (Match Scorecard | Commentary | Match Report).

 

So India end the league stage at the top of the points table, thanks to their last two wins with a bonus point. In less than two days time, they face Sri Lanka again in the all-important final on Thursday at the same venue - Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Remember The Ashes are starting today. Read what the two captains had to say on the eve of the first England vs Australia Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

03:47 (IST): Quotes from the Presentation:

Angelo Mathews: "It was a tough wicket to bat on, the surface gripped as it sweated more after the rain. I thought the bowlers bowled brilliantly early on. The pitch was under covers for some time so batting second was difficult. We had nothing to lose. It was mentally and physically draining to play through for three consecutive days. Credit goes to the boys. We've played some good cricket to reach to the final. Hopefully we will beat India then."

Virat Kohli: "When you have 3 good teams in the tournament, you never know what to expect. The team has shown a lot of character. We did not focus on the rain coming in but just our skills. Proud of the way the boys have put in that effort. When me and Rohit batted, we decided to go slow, which worked well for us as we had wickets in the end. Rohit played a good knock up the order. The bowlers responded beautifully. The bowlers deserve all the credit and we fielded well too."

Man of the match for his career-best 4 for 8, Bhuvneshwar Kumar: "Obviously you feel proud when you perform well for the country. It helps my confidence. We wanted to do well as a bowling unit. I enjoyed bowling on this wicket as it was swinging and seaming a bit."

 

03:40 (IST): MS Dhoni is seen doing casual batting practice after the match. Will he be fit in time for the final on Thursday? Well Virat Kohli at the toss, said he may play the final.

 

03:31 (IST): Match over - India qualify for final vs Sri Lanka. Lasith Malinga was the final wicket to fall as Sri Lanka are bundled out for mere 96 in 24.4 overs, chasing the revised target of 178 from 26 overs. Umesh Yadav picked up Malinga as the tailender was caught at mid-on by Ravindra Jadeja. West Indies are knocked out as India get bonus point and top the tri-series points table. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood out as the hero of India's bowling today with four wickets for 8 runs in his six overs. Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets each, while, R Ashwin and Umesh Yadav struck once. Dinesh Chandimal top scored for Sri Lanka with 26.

03:25 (IST): Ninth Wicket - Dilhara Lokuhettige is the last man out, for 6. A short ball from Ishant Sharma got big on him and he ended edging to the wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, who took a regulation catch. Sri Lanka 87/9 (23.2 overs). Lasith Malinga joins No.10 Shaminda Eranga.

 

03:20 (IST): India are on track to get the bonus point in this game as they need to restrict Sri Lanka to less than 142 to top the tri-series points table. Sri Lanka 87/8 in 23 overs.

 

03:14 (IST): Eighth Wicket - Rangana Herath goes for a pull and finds Murali Vijay at mid on as Ishant Sharma picks up his first wicket. Herath scored 4. Sri Lanka tottering at 84/8 (21.1 overs), in chase of 178 runs from 26 overs.

 

03:07 (IST): Seventh Wicket - R Ashwin joins the wicket-taking brigade as Jeevan Mendis is bowled. Ashwin bowled from round the stumps and the ball drifted towards middle, Mendis is almost yorked by it and fails to keep the ball out.

 

02:55 (IST): Sixth Wicket - What's wrong with Sri Lanka? Dinesh Chandimal loses the plot after coming down the track and missing a turning ball, an easy stumping for Dinesh Karthik off Jadeja, who picks up his second. Sri Lanka sink into further trouble at 63 for 6 after 16 overs. Chandimal hit 26 from 54 balls (1x4, 1x6). Dilhara Lokuhettige is the new man in.

 

02:48 (IST): Fifth Wicket: Ravindra Jadeja strikes and Angelo Mathews departs! Mathews gets a faint edge and Karthik completes the catch in the rebound. Mathews scored 10 off 11 balls. Lanka 56/5, need 122 more from 12 overs. Jeevan Mendis is the new man in.

 

02:46 (IST): Dinesh Chandimal hits R Ashwin over long off for the first six in the Sri Lankan innings. The big hit also brought up Sri Lanka's fifty in the 13th over. Lanka 55/4, need 123 from 13 overs.

 

02:38 (IST): Bhuvneshwar Kumar finishes his spell of incredible bowling - 6 overs 1 maiden 8 runs and 4 wickets. This is Bhuvi's best performance in an ODI. Sri Lanka 41/4 after 11 overs, in pursuit of 178 (26 overs)

 

02:34 (IST): Ten overs gone and Sri Lanka are 40 for 4. Ishant Sharma's second over saw Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews take the attack to him. After getting a streaky four through vacant third slip position, the right hander comes down the track and hammers the lanky pacer over extra cover for four. Sri Lanka need further 138 runs from further 16 overs at 8.62 runs per over.

02:26 (IST): Fourth Wicket - Bhuvneshwar gets his fourth, Lahiru Thirimanne (0) fails to trouble the scorers. The left-hander tried to go over the covers but could not get underneath the ball properly and ends up giving Kohli a simple catch at cover. Sri Lanka 31/4 in 8.3 overs, chasing 178 in 26 overs. Angelo Mathews is the new man.

02:19 (IST): Third Wicket - Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his man - Mahela Jayawardene 11 (11b, 1x4) slices over the gully fieldsman, trying to take a calculated risk, ends up finding Murali Vijay at third man boundary. Sri Lanka 27/3 in 7 overs.

 

02:10 (IST) Bhuvneshwar continues to impress with his incisive line and length. He has excellent figures of 3-0-3-2. Lanka 23 for 2 after 6 overs, chasing 178 for a win.

 

02:04 (IST): Umesh Yadav follows up an expensive first over with a far more disciplined over. Just two runs from it, they are wides as Umesh is yearning to hit the bat hard with pace. Chandimal gets hit on the forearm which is swollen up. He gets treatment for it. Facing Umesh at 140-plus Kmph could be hard, especially if it around the off stump - a line which Umesh successfully hit throughout this over. Sri Lanka 17/2 after 4 overs.

 

01:56 (IST) Bhuvneshwar Kumar is on a hat-trick and two slips and a gully are waiting for him. Chandimal survives, it was close one, swinging in from outside off, goes past the off stump but was not far from it.

01:55 (IST) Second Wicket - Out first ball is Kumar Sangakkara (0), lbw to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This one from Bhuvneshwar does not moves away from Sangakkara and holds it line, Sanga plays back and is struck on the back pad in front of off stump. Umpire Peter Nero raises his finger in a flash. Dinesh Chandimal is the new man in, giving company to Mahela.

01:53 (IST) - First Wicket: Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes and Upul Tharanga falls in a familiar fashion - caught in the slips. Tharanga poked at a one moving further away from him and was sharply taken by Suresh Raina at wide second slip. Tharanga made 6 from 11 balls.

 

01:47 (IST): So Sri Lanka start their pursuit of 178 with 1 run off the first over, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

 

01:45 (IST): Revised Playing Conditions - Mandatory powerplay overs - 5. Batting powerplay overs - 3. One bowler can bowl a maximum of six overs, four bowlers can bowl a maximum of five overs.

01:32 (IST): Sun is back out at the Queen's Park Oval. Indian players are seen warming up in the middle as they prepare to defend 178 for a win and 167 to qualify for final.

 

01:20 (IST): For qualifying for the tri-series final, India need to restrict Sri Lanka to 167 or less in 26 overs.

01:15 (IST): Big News - India's innings is over at 119 for 3 in 29 overs. Sri Lanka need a Duckworth-Lewis target of 178 from 26 overs. Play is scheduled to start at 01:45 (IST)

 

00:30 (IST): No rain around right now but time is running out. In order to make Sri Lanka chase a Duckworth-Lewis target in 20 overs, play may well have to start by 02:10 (IST). Meanwhile, the next pitch inspection is at 01:00 (IST).

 

00:00 (IST): Bad news, a drizzle is back on. It seems that the officials may start with the curtailing of overs from now only.

23:45 (IST): Meanwhile, the latest news from outside the tri-series is that BCCI have raised objections to India's South Africa tour itinerary. Also, good news for Ireland fans as they have qualified for the 2015 ODI World Cup.

23:25 (IST): The latest news is that rain has stopped at Port of Spain but it will take the ground staff a lot of time before they can make the playing area dry enough for play.

 

22:48 (IST): That inspection ain't going to happen as the rain has returned to the Queen's Park Oval at Port of Spain, Trinidad. And, the rain is getting heavier.

22:20 (IST): It has stopped raining in Port of Spain, the ground staff are on the job. Umpires will inspect the conditions at 23:30 (IST).

 

21:49 (IST) Lots of thunder and lightening to go along with the rain. Although there is a reserve day in store for match resumption tomorrow, but there is still a lot of time left to decide on the fate of today's play.

 

21:35 (IST): It's past noon time at Port of Spain, Trinidad and the news from there is that we may be in for a long rain interruption. It's still raining.

 

21:23 (IST): As the rain keeps the players indoors at Port of Spain, here are some links which you can read in the meantime. Dhoni may play tri-series final if India make it, says Virat Kohli (Read). Suresh Raina-Ravindra Jadeja spat deliberately misunderstood, says Gavaskar (Read). How India, West Indies and Sri Lanka all stand a chance to play the final (Read).

 

21:11 (IST): As an anti-climax of sorts, it has started to rain and the players have gone off the field at Queen's Park Oval. India are 119 for 3 after 29 overs. Rohit is two runs shy of his 17th ODI fifty, Raina is giving him company on 4.

 

21:05 (IST): Seeing the success of the double wicket-taker Rangana Herath so far, Angelo Mathews has brought Jeevan Mendis into the attack. The leg-spinner gives away 5 runs in his first over against Rohit and Raina.

 

21:00 (IST): Third Wicket: Dinesh Karthik is bowled by a beauty from Rangana Herath. Karthik did not forward to that one and it turned, he is squared up and the ball tickles the off stump. Karthik goes for 12. Suresh Raina is the new man in.

 

20:52 (IST): Rohit Sharma sweeps Rangana Herath for a six over deep square leg in the 25th over. India 100/2 at the halfway mark - Rohit 40*, Karthik 8*.

 

20:41 (IST): Another worry for Rohit Sharma as he gets his wrist taped. India 83 for 2 in 22 overs.

20:35 (IST): Wow what a start by Dinesh Karthik - he hits the first six of the day, off Rangana Herath. It was dropped short by Herath and Karthik quickly rocks back and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

 

20:33 (IST): Second Wicket - Virat Kohli departs! That is as plumb as it can get. Was pushed through by Rangana Herath, Kohli was deep in his crease as he looked to nudge it towards the on-side, misses and is struck in front of middle and leg. Kohli made 31 from 52 balls.

 

20:30 (IST): After 20 overs, India are 74 for 1. Angelo Mathews has figures of 1 for 4 in 4 overs.

 

20:23 (IST): Spin for the first time today as left-arm spinner Rangana Herath gets ready to bowl the 19th over. India are 67/1 after 18 with Kohli on 26 and Rohit on 22.

 

20:14 (IST): STATS - Most catches in international cricket:

408 - Mahela Jayawardene
364 - Ricky Ponting
334 - Rahul Dravid
326 - Jacques Kallis
306 - Stephen Fleming
289 - Mark Waugh
284 - Brian Lara
283 - Allan Border
281 - Graeme Smith

*courtesy Mohandas Menon

20:09 (IST): Kohli's edge goes for four towards third man, went way past the second slip as India's 50 comes up after 15 overs - 51/0 (15 overs).

 

20:07 (IST): Rohit is back up on his feat and ready to face Eranga. He takes a single a single as the score moves to 47 in the 15th over.

 

20:04 (IST): Rohit Sharma gets medical help after he got an inside edge off Eranga onto the thigh pads and Rohit is hit in the 'box' where it hurts the most. Team physio is out on the field attending to him.

 

20:00 (IST): It's Malinga vs Kohli again and it's Kohli who wins this time - a cracking shot from Kohli, to the right of covers for four in the 14th over. These are Kohli's first runs off Malinga in 12 balls. The 12th over that Malinga had bowled to Kohli was a maiden.

 

19:56 (IST): 13 overs overs gone and India are 40 for the loss of 1 wicket. History says, on this ground, if you apply yourselves and bat for long, runs are there for the taking, especially with the new ODI rules of 5 fielders inside the circle in the non-powerplay overs.

 

19:47 (IST): Rohit Sharma has been dropped, by Jeevan Mendis at point off Malinga. Short of a length ball outside off stump, which was punched in the air, Mendis kneels down at point and lets it go through his fingers pointing upwards.

 

19:42 (IST): Lasith Malinga comes on to bowl for the first time - in the tenth over. Yesterday, he bowled his first over against West Indies when the hosts had already lost 4 wickets in their chase of 230 in 41 overs.

 

19:36 (IST): Kohli, who has 1452 runs against Sri Lanka in ODIs prior to this game, hits his first four today. Lokuhettige at the receiving end this time.

 

19:35 (IST): Mahela Jayawardene now becomes the first non-wicketkeeper to pouch 200 catches in ODI history. Next is Ricky Ponting with 160 catches as a fielder and Mohd Azharuddin with 156 catches. Rahul Dravid has the most catches in Tests - 210.

19:29 (IST): First Wicket - Shikhar Dhawan falls as Sri Lanka skipper draws first blood. Lovely bowling from Mathews, held it back a little bit and Dhawan had to play at it, gets an edge and gets caught right of a wide slip where Mahela Jayawardene is sharp. Dhawan made 15 from 16. Virat Kohli is the new man in.

 

19:23 (IST): India have played the first five overs quite smartly, not going for their shots, just waiting for the bad ball to come. Dhawan is on 10 and Rohit is on 8.

 

19:16 (IST): Rohit Sharma gets into the act now, dispatches the free-hit from Eranga for four over extra covers.

 

19:13: (IST): The first four of the day comes from the blade of Shikhar Dhawan, in the third over. An outswinging half-volley on off stump, drilled through mid-off for four off Eranga.

 

19:09 (IST): Two overs gone, and the openers are off to a sedate start. Dilhara Lokuhettige, who last played an ODI for Sri Lanka way back in 2005, gives away three runs in his first over.

 

19:00 (IST): Time to start the game: Shaminda Eranga to open the bowling for Sri Lanka. Rohit Sharma, like has always been the case this tri-series, will take first strike.

 

18:45 (IST): Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews(c), Jeevan Mendis, Shaminda Eranga, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.

 

18:37 (IST) Breaking News: India stand-in skipper Virat Kohli has said that regular skipper MS Dhoni is getting close to full fitness and he may play the final of the tri-series if India make the summit clash.

 

18:34 (IST): Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews wins the toss and elect to field. Nuwan Kulasekara is out and Rangana Herath is playing this game. Right-arm medium pacer all-rounder Dilhara Lokuhettige is playing, while Sachithra Senanayake is left out. Indian playing XI is unchanged.

 

17.13 (IST): Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews is confident of his team doing well against India. "I am very pleased with the boys, they showed a lot of character, especially yesterday (Sunday). It is tough to play around rain delays batting first. We had to get the runs, and I am glad that we got the runs," he said.

 

16.21 (IST): Today's match shall be a test for stand-in skipper Virat Kohli as he leads his team in the absence of MS Dhoni.

 

16.10 (IST): Nuwan Kulasekara will miss this all important match for Sri Lanka due to an injury.

 

India will be confident after their 102-run win over West Indies ahead of their clash with Sri Lanka. But Sri Lanka's recent win in the rain affected game over West Indies boosts their chances. They also have a psychological advantage over India with a crushing 161-run win in the series earlier on.

It is a must-win situation for the Indians but they may have a slight edge over Sri Lanka as the islanders would not get any rest due to the rain-forced postponement of their game against the West Indies to be completed today.

The Indians would come into match quite fresh and on a high after beating the West Indies in their previous game, a win that kept them in the hunt for a final berth.

Kohli provided the spark, after twin debacles in the first leg, with an inspiring hundred that was also his first as captain.

The openers -- Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan -- also notched up well-timed knocks as the famed Indian line-up got its act together after a couple of botched up outings.

But the Lankan line-up is no less stronger with old warhorses -- Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara -- being the key batsmen.